Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action taken to date in implementing the digital strategy for schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26143/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment was launched by my Department in October 2015.  The Strategy is focused on realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the learning experiences of students by helping them become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens who participate fully in society and the economy. 

The Strategy is developed around four main Themes namely: Teaching, Learning and Assessment using ICT, Teacher Professional Learning, Leadership, Research and Policy, ICT Infrastructure. The Strategy will enable all stakeholders to work together to support the embedding of digital technologies in every classroom in a systematic and focussed way.  

Implementation of the Digital Strategy is currently underway.  An Implementation Advisory Group has been established to guide its implementation. Membership of the Group comprise representation from the Department, industry, academic experts, practitioners/teachers and representation from the tech voluntary sector.   

Key priorities have been identified and are set out in my Department's Action Plan for 2017. Their implementation is under way and include the following:

- The development of a Digital Learning Framework for Teachers and School Leaders to be piloted in Q4 of 2017. Using this Framework, teachers and school leaders will be enabled to plan for the effective integration of digital technologies in teaching practice and school policies, to evaluate progress and to chart an improvement journey. 

- Commence updating the eLearning Planning Resource  for schools and align with School Self Evaluation and the Digital Learning Framework currently in development.  This resource provides a step-by-step guide to the development of the school's eLearning Plan

- Establish a Support Services Planning Group to collaborate on the planning, design and delivery of CPD and other support services to schools to ensure a consistent approach in the embedding of ICT in support programmes. 

- Develop guidance to support the establishment of communities of practice  within schools or other teacher networks

- Development of strategic partnerships with relevant cultural, educational and/or sporting bodies in order to adapt relevant content into useful learning and teaching resources for schools

- Scope a proposal to incentivise and facilitate schools in innovation, clustering approaches to maximise the impact of digital technologies in teaching and learning

- Provide and facilitate the sharing of examples of good practice regarding the effective use of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment, including through the DES Scoilnet portal and the websites of the PDST-TIE and other support services

- Continue to provide improved broadband services to schools where available under the existing Schools Broadband Access Scheme.  All post primary schools have high speed broadband. Some 800 primary schools were provided with improved broadband services in 2016 and a further 300 is targeted for 2013.

- Establish a working group to determine how best to provide for high speed broadband for primary schools in collaboration with DCCAE in the context of the National Broadband Plan and the State Intervention Strategy. 

- The Digital Strategy for Schools committed to €210m in funding for multi-annual ICT Infrastructure Grants to schools over the period of the Strategy. The first tranche of this funding (€30m), in respect of the 2017/2017 school year, has already issued to schools 

The process to provide opportunities for students to pursue in-depth ICT study in the Senior Cycle and the inclusion of clear statements and objectives on the use of ICT in curriculum specifications and policy initiatives are also key priorities and their implementation has also commenced.

My Department is working towards the phased introduction of Computer Science as a Leaving Certificate subject from September 2018. A Steering Group has been established for this purpose and a draft subject specification is being developed. Coding is included as a short course option for the new Junior Cycle Curriculum. At primary level, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently in the process of developing a new primary mathematics curriculum to include computational thinking (including coding) and flexible and creative thinking skills.

ICT is an integral part of all CPD programmes under development. 

I recently hosted a Regional Forum in a school in Limerick where I heard ideas and feedback from the educational community and employers based across the region on my Department's plan to embed digital technologies in teaching and learning. Feedback from Forums like this will guide my Department's continued research into the effective use of digital technologies in schools.

My Department is currently finalising a 2017 Digital Strategy Action Plan which I expect to publish shortly.